大象传媒

Rev. Dr. Stephen Wigley is a Methodist minister and has been Chair of the Wales Synod of the Methodist Church since听2007, having听studied at Oxford and Birmingham and then听served in churches in Swansea, Aberystwyth and Cardiff. His interests are in historical and ecumenical theology and he has written books on Karl Barth and Hans Urs von Balthasar. He is married to Jenny, a priest in the Church in Wales, and they have two grown up sons, Andrew and Crash. 听听Stephen is a regular contributor to religious programmes on 大象传媒 Radio Wales and Radio 4.

During Lent Radio 4鈥檚 Sunday Worship and Daily Service as well as听Sunday Breakfast on 大象传媒 local radio听are taking the idea of Pilgrimage as inspiration. A link to resources for individuals and groups from Churches Together in Britain and Ireland can be found below.

Please note:

This script cannot exactly reflect the transmission, as it was prepared before the service was broadcast. It may include editorial notes prepared by the producer, and minor spelling and other errors that were corrected before the radio broadcast.

It may contain gaps to be filled in at the time so that prayers may reflect the needs of the world, and changes may also be made at the last minute for timing reasons, or to reflect current events.

OPENING ANNO FROM R4

大象传媒 Radio 4.听 And now we go live to Gresford Methodist Church in Wrexham for Sunday Worship. Continuing our Lenten theme of Pilgrimage, the service is led by the Rev鈥檇 Richard Sharples and the preacher the Rev鈥檇 Dr. Stephen Wigley, Chair of the Wales Synod of the Methodist Church.听 The service begins with S.S. Wesley鈥檚 Introit 鈥楲ead me, Lord, in thy righteousness鈥�.听听

ITEM 1听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Choir Introit 听听Lead me, Lord

ITEM 2听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Excerpt from Brother Lawrence鈥檚 鈥楾he Practice of Presence of God鈥�

鈥淭he most holy and necessary practice in our spiritual life is the presence of God. That means finding constant pleasure in his divine company, speaking humbly and lovingly with him in all seasons, at every moment without limiting the conversation in any way鈥�

听I know a person who for forty years has practised the presence of God鈥� My friend says that by dwelling in the presence of God he has established such a sweet communion with the Lord that his spirit abides, without much effort, in the restful peace of God. In this centre of rest, he is filled with a faith that equips him to handle anything that comes into his life.鈥�

ITEM 3 INTRO & WELCOME听听听听听听听听STEPHEN WIGLEY听听听听听听

Good morning and welcome to Gresford Methodist Church. Those words are taken from the writings of Brother Lawrence, a Carmelite lay brother who lived over 300 years ago. They draw on his experience of learning to discern the presence of God 鈥榠n all seasons, at every moment鈥� 鈥� and most famously when working in the kitchens of his community. He calls this the 鈥榩ractice of the presence of God鈥�.

His words lead us into the theme of our service this morning which, as part of the Churches Together in Britain & Ireland鈥檚 Lent series on Pilgrimage, materials for which can be found online, is all about 鈥榖ecoming present鈥�; that is learning to be attentive to our situation and surroundings, and discovering in and through them the presence of God among us.

One of the things about going on pilgrimage is that in the presence of new surroundings our senses are heightened and we become more attuned to the sights and sounds around us. But as we shall also reflect, this doesn鈥檛 relate just to physical journeys to a new place; it can also be a spiritual journey, taking the time to revisit places which are already known to us, but viewing them with new eyes and seeing them afresh, as if for the first time.

In the case of Brother Lawrence it was all about coming to discover the presence of God in the everyday and the ordinary, and there鈥檚 something of that same sense in our opening hymn by Charles Wesley, 鈥楩orth in thy name, O Lord, I go, my daily labour to pursue.鈥� After which the minister of this church, the Revd. Richard Sharples, will lead us in prayer.听

ITEM 4听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Hymn 鈥楩orth in thy name O Lord I go鈥� (Choir)

ITEM 5听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Link & Reading from Psalm 63.1-8.听听听听听听听听听听听 Richard Sharples & Reader 1

RICHARD听听听听听听听听听听听听听 As we come into worship, the Psalmist reminds us of the soul鈥檚 longing for God.

RICHARD听听听听听听听听听听听听听 O God, you are my God, eagerly I seek you,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听听听 my soul thirsts for you;

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听听 my flesh faints for you,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听 as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

听READER听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听beholding your power and glory.

听RICHARD听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Because your steadfast love is better than life,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 my lips will praise you.

听READER听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 So I will bless you as long as I live;

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听I will lift up my hands and call on your name.

听RICHARD听听听听听听听听听听听听听 My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听and my mouth praises you with joyful lips

听READER听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 When I think of you on my bed,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 and meditate on you in the watches of the night

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.听

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 your right hand upholds me.

ITEM 6听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 PRAYERS 听听听听听听听听听听听听 RICHARD SHARPLES

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Let us pray,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Eternal God,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Giver of life and creator of all,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 The one in whom we live and move and have our being,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 We come to worship you,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 To sing your praises, to hear your word,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And to know your presence among us.

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Yet we know that

听听听听听 You do not wait for us to come to you,

听听听听听 For heaven cannot hold you,

听听听听听 Nor can earth sustain;

听听听听听 You are with us in all times and in all places,

听听听听听 In the paths our lives take,

听听听听听 In the events that come upon us on the way,

听听听听听 And in the life of your Son our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

听听听听听 Help us to look out for his face,

听听听听听 Teach us to listen for his voice,

听听听听听 And forgive us when we fail

听听听听听 To be attentive to his presence among us,

听听听听听 Or to recognise your divine image

听听听听听 In the face of friend or stranger.

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And when we do not know how to pray as we ought,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Send your Holy Spirit to intercede for us;

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 To forgive us our faults and our failings,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 To draw us closer to one another and to you,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 To strengthen us in our fellowship with the saints,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And to lead us deeper into the mind of Christ.

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 For we ask this prayer in the name of Jesus,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Who taught us, when we pray, to say;

听ITEM 7听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Lord鈥檚 Prayer

听 听 听听Our Father,

听听 听听 Who art in heaven,

听听听听听 Hallowed be thy name;

听听听听听 Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,

听听听听听 On earth as it is in heaven.

听听听听听 Give us this day our daily bread,

听听听听听 And forgive us our trespasses

听听听听听 As we forgive those who trespass against us.

听听听听听 And lead us not into temptation,

听听听听听 But deliver us from evil,

听听听听听 For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,

听听听听听 Forever and ever, Amen.

听ITEM 8 LINK & READING from Isaiah 55.1-9听听听听STEPHEN WIGLEY & Reader 2

听(SW) Our Old Testament reading comes from the prophet Isaiah chapter 55, and speaks of the presence of God鈥檚 word to nourish and sustain us.

(搁别补诲别谤2)听听听听听听听听听听听

Ho, everyone who thirsts,

听听听come to the waters;

and you that have no money,

听听听come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

听听听without money and without price.

2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

听听听and your labour for that which does not satisfy?

Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,

听听听and delight yourselves in rich听food.

3 Incline your ear, and come to me;

听听听listen, so that you may live.

听

6 Seek the LORD while he may be听found,

听听 call upon him while he is near;

7 Let the wicked forsake their way,

听听听and the unrighteous their thoughts;

听Let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them,

听听听and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

听听听nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

听听听so are my ways higher than your听ways

听听听and my thoughts than your thoughts.

ITEM 9听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 LINK听 听听听听 STEPHEN

John Rutter鈥檚 anthem, sung for us by the Sirenian Singers,reminds us of The Gift of Each Day.

ITEM 10听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CHOIR听听 The gift of each day .

ITEM 11听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Link & Reading STEPHEN WIGLEY & Reader 3听听听听

(SW) 听听听听 Our reading from Luke鈥檚 Gospel chapter 10 tells the story of two sisters who seek to 听听听听 welcome Jesus into their home, and how they respond differently to his presence among them.

(Rd3) 听听听 Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named 听听听 Martha welcomed him into her home. 39She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord鈥檚听feet and listened to what he was saying. 40But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, 鈥楲ord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the听work by myself? Tell her then to help me.鈥� 41But the Lord answered her, 鈥楳artha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42there is need of only one thing.* Mary has听chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.鈥� (Luke 10.38-42)

ITEM 12听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 ADDRESS听听听听听听听听听听听听 STEPHEN WIGLEY

We began our service with Brother Lawrence practising the presence of God in the kitchen. Now I want you to imagine another scene. There鈥檚 a distinguished guest coming to town with some of his friends; and two women, two sisters indeed, are getting ready to welcome him into their home 鈥� but in very different ways.

As Luke tells it, Martha is busy about the house doing the jobs one might expect of a hostess while Mary simply sits by Jesus鈥� feet and listens to what he is saying. This annoys Martha sufficiently to take it up with Jesus, asking that he tell her sister to give her some help about the house. But Jesus鈥� response is quite different; 鈥淢artha, you are distracted by many things; there is only one thing needful. Mary chosen the better part which will not be taken away from her.鈥�

It鈥檚 a short but complex story encompassing all kinds of themes, but at its heart is the question of presence. Which of the sisters was really paying attention to the presence of Jesus among them? And that takes us right to the heart of our theme this morning, 鈥楤ecoming present鈥�. For it鈥檚 all about learning what it means to be attentive to God鈥檚 presence among us, and not to be distracted by all those other things we think we need to do.

Now this may seem quite a long way from the idea of pilgrimage, of making a journey designed to help bring us closer to God. After all in this story it鈥檚 Jesus who is on the road while Martha and Mary welcome him into their home. But journeys, and indeed pilgrimages, take a variety of different forms, and if we read further into the Gospel stories, we will discover that both Mary and Martha have a significant spiritual journey still to make.

For in John鈥檚 Gospel, Martha and Mary are the sisters of Jesus鈥� friend, Lazarus. When Lazarus is taken seriously ill, they ask Jesus to come to visit him and are dismayed when he delays. By the time Jesus finally arrives, their brother is dead and Martha and Mary in turn reproach Jesus for not coming earlier. Then Jesus goes to the tomb, asks for the stone to be rolled away and calls Lazarus to come out 鈥� and he does, still wrapped in his grave-clothes.

John鈥檚 account uses this story to point towards Jesus鈥� own death and resurrection. But for Martha and Mary it鈥檚 also a significant stage in their discipleship and journey of faith. For in facing their brother鈥檚 illness and death, they have learnt what it means to trust in Jesus as 鈥榯he Resurrection and the Life鈥�. And for Mary that journey has another step still to go; for when Jesus next comes to visit their home at Bethany, while Martha is serving at table, Mary no longer simply sits at Jesus鈥� feet, but anoints them with perfume and wipes them with her hair.

Mary鈥檚 journey doesn鈥檛 take her, so far as we know in the Gospels, beyond her home in Bethany. Yet in listening, paying attention, being herself fully present at this moment in the presence of Jesus, she has started on a path that will transform her whole life and faith. It鈥檚 a spiritual journey which will take in a lifetime of experience, and lead her to see all those things which she thought familiar in a new and fresh light.

Mary鈥檚 journey starts with 鈥榯he one thing needful鈥� 鈥� being present in the company of Jesus. It reminds me of the time when our boys were growing up and everything was such a rush to get them off to school in the morning. It was tempting to wish that all it could be over and done with to allow us some peace and quiet; but slowly I came to realise that in the details of this daily routine precious time and moments were being shared in a different kind of 鈥榪uality time鈥�.

Being attentive to the presence of God can help us pay attention to the things we often overlook and this same theme is also found in our Old Testament reading.

All this isn鈥檛 to deny there is a value in the physical journey and experience of pilgrimage. It can be the experience of being in different settings which opens up our senses to new sights and sounds, to a fresh understanding of what it means to be held in the knowledge and love of God. My colleague Richard will shortly share his reflections of walking one of the ancient pilgrim trails across Wales to Bardsey Island, and how that experience led him and his companions into a deeper sense of the presence of God.

But sometimes the longest journey isn鈥檛 about miles on a map; rather it鈥檚 that journey back into our minds and memories which enables us to see things clearly and discover a truth previously overlooked. It鈥檚 the journey which Mary makes as she comes to discover that Jesus is indeed the Resurrection and the Life. It鈥檚 that journey which enables us to become fully present in each moment to the God whose presence is ever and all around us. And it leads to the place which T S Eliot describes so beautifully at the end of his Four Quartets:

听听 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淲e shall not cease from exploration

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听 and the end of all our exploring

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听 will be to arrive where we started

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听 and know the place for the first time.鈥�

听ITEM 13听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 LINK 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 RICHARD SHARPLES

RS)听听听听听听听听 So we commit ourselves to that journey into the presence of God -听

- 鈥極 Jesus I have promised鈥︹�櫶�听听听听

ITEM 14听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CHOIR听听 O Jesus, I have promised .

ITEM 15听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 REFLECTION 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 RICHARD SHARPLES

Last May, along with a group of other pilgrims, I made the journey across North Wales to Bardsey Island, suspended between sea and sky off the tip of the Llyn Peninsula. Bardsey is Wales' Holy Island; reputedly the burial place of thousands of saints, and now the destination of the North Wales Pilgrim Way along which we had walked. The Welsh name is Ynys Enlli, meaning 'the island of currents', for there are many days upon which it is not safe to cross in the small boat which provides a life-line to the island's modest population.

But on that occasion, as so often on our pilgrimage, we were favoured. It was a calm day; for us a Sabbath Day. For God's loving intention is that we find a rhythm within the time that is given to us; a rhythm which keeping Sabbath gives to our lives. We do not thrive if we live lives of 24/7 relentless busyness. There are many ways of building this Sabbath pattern into our lives other than 'keeping Sunday special', and the practice of pilgrimage is one of them.

What I experienced afresh over the course of our 2 week journey, was that pilgrimage is not just a way of walking towards the holy place, but a way of becoming present to the God who is always with us. The experience of rain and wind, bluebell and birdsong, reconnected me with the natural world. A wind-burnt face and aching legs reconnected me with my body. And walking with others, reconnects me with the God who is community, even if, especially if, some of us snored loudly or walked slowly.

So for us that day on Bardsey was a taste of heaven, a glimpse of the Sabbath Rest God has prepared for his people. But it wouldn't have been that way if we had helicoptered in or come only for a day trip. Seeing our lives as pilgrimage, establishing our own Sabbath pattern, helps us to practice the presence of God, so that each moment becomes charged with the glory of God.

ITEM 16听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Choir anthem 鈥楾ake this moment鈥� (Choir) Flute听听听听听

ITEM 17听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Responsive Prayers of Intercession 听听听听听听听 (RS, Readers & Choir)

RS)听听听听听听听听 So, guided by God鈥檚 spirit,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 We offer up our prayers for the world, for the Church

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And for God鈥檚 people everywhere.

Choir)听听听 Take, oh take me as I am;

Rd1)听听听听听听 We pray for your world,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Asking that we may be mindful of its divine creation,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Appreciative of its abundant riches and resources,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And responsible in our stewardship

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Of all that is entrusted to us,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 For the sake of those in need

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And for generations still to come:听

Rd2)听听听听听听 We pray for your Church,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Asking that we may be a community

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Which is attentive to your presence among us,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Alive to your love and compassion at work

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And, in the power of your Spirit,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Active as channels of your peace

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Seeking to transform your world:

Choir)听听听 Take, oh take me as I am鈥�

Rd 3)听听听听听 We pray for all those who stand in special need at this time,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 For all those caught up in conflict and violence,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 For those forced to flee seeking shelter and security,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 And especially we pray for the success of the cease fire in Syria....

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Recognising that in responding to those in need

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 We are responding to your presence among us.

Choir)听听听 Take, oh take me as I am鈥�

RS)听听听听听听听听 We offer all these our prayers as we offer ourselves

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 In the name of Christ and for the sake of his kingdom, Amen.

ITEM 18 LINK (RS) & HYMN 鈥楪uide me O thou great Redeemer鈥�

RS) 听听听听听听听 Next Tuesday is St David鈥檚 day, when we will celebrate the festival for Wales鈥� patron saint;听听so we close our service with that great Welsh hymn which encourages us all to travel Joyfully in the presence of God; 鈥楪uide me O thou great Jehovah, pilgrim though this barren land.鈥�

ITEM 19听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 BLESSING听听听听听听听听听听听 STEPHEN WIGLEY

听听听听 1.听听听听听听 May the God of hope

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Fill us with all joy and peace in believing,

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 So that we may abound in hope

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 By the power of the Holy Spirit;

听听听听 2.听听听听听听 May the peace of God which passes all understanding

听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听 Keep our hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God,

听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听 And of his Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ;

听听听听 3.听听听听听 And may the blessing of God,

听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听 The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听 Rest upon us and remain with us

听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听 Now and for evermore.听 Amen.

ITEM 20 Organ Postlude听听听 CHRISTOPHER ENSTON

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Fuge in G minor by JS Bach.

CLOSING ANNO:

Sunday Worship came live from Gresford Methodist Church in Wrexham.听 The service was led by the Rev鈥檇 Richard Sharples and the preacher was the Rev. Dr. Stephen Wigley, Chair of the Wales Synod of the Methodist Church.听 The Sirenian Singers were directed by Jean Stanley-Jones, the flautist was Linda Boylett and the Organist Christopher Enston.听 The producer was Karen Walker.

'Alone and Together'听is the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland pilgrimage theme for Mothering Sunday Worship next week live from St Martin-in-the-Fields. And a link to the CTBI materials, is available on this week鈥檚 Sunday Worship web page.

听